My name is William Lee and I am running for the Republican nomination in Virginia’s 1st Congressional district. I have written Mr. Gheen about my candidacy but I wanted to introduce myself to the bulletin board as well. My positions on illegal immigration are as follows:

1. I will push for the closing of the border through fences, barricades, and increased manpower. I believe that we should establish new military bases on the border states. Military personnel could then be used to assist border patrol agents. This would have a dual benefit of giving military personnel a style of training that will be needed in modern-day conflicts and give much needed help to border patrol agents. After all the military’s main mission is to protect this country from invasion and invasion is certainly what we are experiencing today.

2. I will strongly oppose any type of amnesty program. Not only will this reward illegal behavior it will encourage many to try and cross the border illegally before the policy comes into effect.

3. I will strongly oppose any program that allows taxpayer money to be spent on illegal immigrants, whether it is for second language schooling, welfare, or a limited social security program.

4. I will support the abolishing of the law that allows a baby born to an illegal immigrant automatic citizen status.

5. I will oppose any expansion of failed, so-called trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA. The bills are nothing more than disguised foreign aid bills that were passed with the promise of alleviating some of the country’s illegal immigration problems by bettering the life of Mexican citizens. Unfortunately since NAFTA was passed the illegal immigration problem has skyrocketed and the promises made ring very hollow.

6. I will push to get rid of the “catch and release� policies that have become “standard operating procedure� with much of the law enforcement bureaucracy. We need to either return caught illegal aliens or enforce laws with teeth that will dissuade them from wanting to cross the border.

7. I will push for legislation to implement strong penalties against employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants and encourage this behavior.

8. I will strongly oppose any “guest worker� program. The idea of freely allowing immigrants into the county and then expecting them to leave after a set time period is nothing more than wishful thinking. If people wish to enter this country they should have to follow the proper channels.

I feel as if my positions and those of the ALI are one and them same. Please visit my website leeforva.org to learn more about my positions on other issues. I also ask for your support. If anyone would like to contact me directly please feel free to e-mail me at Speakup@leeforva.org.